Method of producing fertilizers.



LEONARD ROBERTS'COATJES, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

METHUJD 01F PRODUCING FERTIlbIZ-ERS.

No Drawing.

Specification of resentment. mama net. i, taro.

Application filed April as, 1909. Serial No. 492,287.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD Ronnn'rs 'COATES, of the city of Baltimore and State of Mlarvland, have invented an improved Method of Producing'lFertilizers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is based on the discovery which I have made that the insoluble salts of phosphorus, potash and lime' are rendered available for the supportof plant llfe, by

; micro-organisms in natural processes constantly taking place; and the object of the present invention is to produce a commercial fertilizer in. which is incorporated the said micro-organisms, together with a suitable food for the same, which micro-organisms when the fertilizer is applied to the soil, will carry outwith respect to the insoluble salts present, the processes above described, that is to sa ,-the rendering available as a plant food 0 any of the said, insoluble salts with which they come in contact ing therewith the micro-organisms Which in a natural process are effecting the chemical changes above referred to, or the same micro-organisms wherever found in an active state and not materially'contaminated by,

or mixed with other micro-organisms which moisten it with are found to be deleterious to their repro-' duction, or injurious to plant life when in-, corporated in a fertilizer. I then take round raw bone or some other suitable food or bacteria, and after sterilizing the same,

the pure culture above described. a

By this process I produce a concentrated fertilizer composed of a sterilized food inoculated with the micro-organisms which when applied to the soil, will attack the particles of rock containing one or more of the insoluble salts enumerated, and is not contaminated with micro-organisms which have been found to be deleterious to bacterial life or plant growth, and which are commonly propagated in the soil when stable manure is applied thereto. Soilfrorn one farm or situation, like stable manure, may contain micro-organisms which in the present invention are used for thepurpose of increasing fertilization, but which if transferred to another farm or situation, may also carry with it, harmful micro-organisms, or deleterious bacteria; and it has been urged by persons who have scientifically experimented with soils, that the practice of using stable manure, or transferring soil from one farm or section of land to another are operations which should be performed with great caution, and with a full knowledge of the constituents of the manure, or the soil transferred.

From the foregoing it will be understood that a fertilizer produced in the manner described, contains only such micro-organisms as are adapted to render available the insoluble salts of phosphorus, potash and lime, together with a sterilized food which not tonly sustains the life of the micro-organisms.

contained in the fertilizer but also those produced b their multiplication in the soil.

The fertilizer described is a concentrated substance, and can be increased in bulk to any extent desired, by combining with it some material such for instance, as ound phosphate rock which has been sterilized by heat or some'other suitable process.

I claim is my invention,-

The process of producing a commercial fertilizer, which consists in preparing a steriliz'ed practically solid food for bacteria; then adding to a sterilized culture mixture, breaking-down rock bearing the micro-organisms whereby the insoluble salts of phosghorus potash and lime in the rock are ren-' ered available for fertilizing purposes, and then treatin the sterilized food with the inoculated cu ture mixture, substantially as 

